Robin Williams' death highlights mental health crisis

Tuesday

Aug 12, 2014 at 9:48 PMAug 12, 2014 at 9:56 PM

By Brad Petrishen TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

As the shock of the suicide of one of America's most beloved comedians gives way to speculation about his motives, local mental health experts Tuesday stressed the importance of not letting the actor's death overshadow the problem of suicide in society.

"This highlights the magnitude of the problem," Barry Feldman, assistant professor of psychiatry at UMass Medical School in Worcester, said Tuesday of the death of Robin Williams. "People struggle with these situations every day."

Mr. Williams, 63, was found dead Monday in his California home in what authorities Tuesday ruled a suicide. In addition to grief over the loss of one of its most eccentric and genuine Hollywood figures, his death has brought the discussion of mental health in America to the fore.

"It's unfortunate that it takes the death of a celebrity to get this on our radar screens," Mr. Feldman said. "We as a society don't really discuss death well, and suicide in particular."

Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States, Mr. Feldman said, a figure of which most Americans are not aware. It is the third-leading cause of death among Americans ages 15 to 24, he said, and the second-leading cause of death in college-age people.

"Suicide cuts across all socioeconomic groups, all religious groups, all ages," Mr. Feldman said. "This is a national health problem."

Mr. Feldman and other experts say the stigma of looking for help often prevents people who need it from doing so.

"Most depressed individuals don't think of killing themselves," said Leonard A. Doerfler, a clinical psychologist who serves as director of the counseling psychology program at Assumption College. "The most common thing that ends up in people taking drastic action is hopelessness."

Mr. Doerfler said though some people question how someone of Mr. Williams' stature could want to take his or her own life, fame and fortune don't buy mental stability. "It's the way the person views the world, which can be very different from the real situation they find themselves in," he said. "When people are depressed, what they see is a black cloud."

Mr. Doerfler also said that alcohol and drug problems — both of which Mr. Williams admitted to having — can drive a severely depressed person over the edge by leading to impulsive decisions.

Mr. Feldman said that Mr. Williams' death highlights the importance of the responsibility individuals have to recognize signs of depression in themselves or others.

"Suicide is a preventable public health problem," he said, detailing an acronym, FACTS, he says people should learn.

FACTS stands for Feelings, Actions, Changes, Threats and Stressors, Mr. Feldman said. Feelings (such as helplessness or despondency), actions (such as stockpiling pills or weapons), changes (in appearance or behavior), threats of self-harm (either direct or indirect) and stressors (such as financial or relationship problems) are all things to consider.

"When someone sees any of these warning signs, they need to stop and pay attention," Mr. Feldman said. "Be able to say, 'Hey, I'm worried about you. Are you thinking of killing yourself?'"

John Polanowicz, the state secretary of Health and Human Services, said both local and national government need to do a better job in the arena of mental health.

Mr. Polanowicz and U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern were at the clinic Tuesday to oversee a program that provides oral health services for people with developmental disabilities.

Both men said they hope the death of Mr. Williams will inspire people inside and outside of government to work harder to eliminate the stigma surrounding depression.

"In 2012, there were over 6,200 emergency department visits for self-inflicted injuries in Massachusetts," Mr. Polanowicz said. "We need to reach out to people and let them know that there is help out there."

Boston-based Samaritan, an organization that operates a suicide hotline in Massachusetts, fielded nearly 200,000 calls in 2012, Mr. Polanowicz said. He said the state's Department of Public Health has a "small but mighty" program, the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Program, that aims to educate the public about the resources available.

"Part of it is making sure people are working across disciplines to prevent suicides," he said. "(Suicide) is nothing we should keep behind closed doors. Often we can prevent these tragic situations from occurring (through education)."

Mr. McGovern, calling himself a big fan of Mr. Williams, called his death tragic.

"For too long, depression and substance abuse have been stigmatized. We don't want to talk about it," he said. "Even people who are of great means fall through the cracks."

Mr. McGovern said he would support more funding for mental health services and for research into suicide, but noted widespread political support for such initiatives is an "open question."

Mr. Feldman said something everyone can do is look for the signs of depression or suicide in family and friends and not be afraid to tell them to seek help.

"It's unfortunate that it takes the death of a celebrity to get this on our radar screens," he said, adding he hopes the media and popular culture don't "sensationalize" Mr. Williams' death.

"When a celebrity with this kind of status takes their own life, it can potentially influence others who engage in suicidal behavior," he said. He urged people to discuss the suicide in a respectful yet meaningful way.